RPF checks parcels to curb illegal items being smuggled into trains

New Delhi: To make sure that no illegal items like money, liquors, weapons smuggled in the city during Lok Sabha polls, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has started checking parcels coming by trains. The security force has recovered illegal liquors and 14 unbooked luggage. According to RPF, they have formed special teams for checking in all railway stations in the city. "We are continuously checking different parcels as to make sure that no illegal contrabands, cash, weapons supplied through trains in the election," said RPF officer.

The data accessed by Millennium Post revealed that (till March) liquors worth more than Rs 86,000 and unbooked luggage worth Rs 23,174 were recovered. From New Delhi Railway Station team, three country-made pistols and five magazines were recovered. "There are some luggage which were carried on the train without proper booking. We send these unauthorised luggage to the concerned authority and if something suspicious found, they are being seized," said RPF official.

Senior Divisional Security Commissioner (Coordination) Dr AN Jha told that RPF along with GRP is conducting intensive checking of unauthorised persons and booked goods on trains to curb illegal activities which may directly or indirectly affect the process of upcoming general election. The teams under Assistant Security Commissioner (NDLS) Harish Singh Papola continuously checking the trains carrying parcels and also inspections going on in the express trains connecting NCR.

Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told that apart from major railway stations, they are also keeping an eye on small stations. "Under the instructions of Director General (DG) of RPF, they are regularly monitoring the situation in different railway stations and conducting surprise checks," said Kumar.

The RPF continuously monitoring the movement of parcels in 200 trains and also randomly checking the luggage in different railway stations. "In many cases, we found that there is unclaimed luggage in the trains which is being checked and also we have tried to find out the luggage owner," added an official.